Is right for debt companies send the police to arrest you?
By unique16
@unique16 (1531)
United States
July 13, 2010 3:16pm CST
I just read online in Minnasoate if you are summoned to court for old debt and you refuse to go they debt companies can police out to arrest for because they send out warrent because you owe money. They debt these people had are under $300.00 or even $85.00 and police departments are doing this to people? Can you beleive this debts could 5 years old etc...
Do you think there should be policy across the United States to protects us people who are trying to pay off our debt from the debt companies?
Thanks and have a great day
Sincerely Unique16
7 responses
@maikeruk (405)
• Germany
14 Jul 10
indeed is possible, the only thing that have to be awared is that usually they have to warn you first and since the first warning to the "police intervention" the company might inform you at least 3 times and confirm that you were awared of that and have a maximum period of around 180 days... most of the contracts are like that but are more flexible depending on:
1. the amount to pay
2. type of service they are offer
3. credit history
hope you wont have that problem, usually what people do is to make long term arrangements with companies. at the end people end up paying aroudn 20% more than they have to due that :-(
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
14 Jul 10
Hello maikerruk,
These are old debts like 5 years ago or older... that there are stautes of limitation where the credit card companies cannot come after you if you never made a pyament during that time...
Yes, some companies to send out warnings etc.. or call and harrasss you sometimes they call every hour on the hour when the legal is only allowed to call you once during business days hours and they even call you at work it is not legal at all.
Sometimes you do pay and it not enough every month and they harass you...
Don't police have better things to do like after people who steal, robbed and murder people... our tax dollars are going to this after we bailes out the credit card companies with our tax dollars... I still feel this not right.. people are really do there to keep there jobs and land in jail for 1 night is not cool.. then you loose a job and then you loose your home... all over $85.00 that you thought was paid 5 years ago... really?
Or heere another senario a single mother trying to raise her child only like 6 months and they police arrest her for unpaid credit card from college or soemthing or her exhusband maxed out credit card... etc.. or someone stole her identy...
This is not right... people should be protect by a Bill...
Like as long as you are working you pay like $10.00 from each paycheck etc..
but the courts are taking there fees and what people owe from person comapny they work for and then they cannot pay the mortgage or get gas for there car or loan payment on the car... etc...
Thanks and have a great day
Sincerely Unique16
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
13 Jul 10
If you owe money, you owe money. It is up to you to contact the people you owe money to in order to arrange a mutually convenient scheme for repayment. An alternative is to make an appointment to see a counsellor who will advise you about consolidating your debts so that you will only pay a specified and agreed amount every month to one place.
If the police are involved, then you have already defaulted on payments too many times. You seriously need to cooperate with the authorities and arrange a workable plan for paying back what you owe so that you can also have enough money to live. There are State organisations which can help you with this for free.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
13 Jul 10
Let's face it, the cops don't really want to arrest you and nor do the courts need to waste their time. Once you understand that they are only doing their job and that if you ASK for help, the authorities will be only too glad to show you where to go, you will be on the right track.
@Howard098 (6)
• United States
14 Jul 10
Indeed, it also costs money to send the police out... taxpayer's money...
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
13 Jul 10
Debt companies should inform you about the debt. Always ask if you're allowed to pay in installments if you're in a bad financial position. If they refuse then say you won't be able to pay otherwise. Make sure they don't add any unnecessary costs, due to you paying in installments, this is unfair. If you really can't pay the debts, ask a debt management company to help you out, they can negotiate with your creditor and change your spending habit. Hand the police and your creditor/debt company proof that you're currently in a debt management project, this will mostly prevent you from getting arrested, and I believe the police shouldn't arrest you in such case. Also make sure you make use of all the financial aids the government and your municipality offers you. For example where I live you're allowed to declare a laptop once every three years if you're a student, if you're disabled you can receive social security, etc.This prevents you from being unable to pay your debts.
If you're getting arrested tell the cop that you're invoking your right to remain silent. Tell him a few times but not the whole time. In no situation should you resist. Stay in total control of yourself. Keep your hands where the police can see them. Be polite and respectful at all times, and you'll receive respect. Remember physical appearances, badge numbers, they come in handy in case you've been treated incorrectly. Ask bystanders to watch from a distance, this way police won't do anything bad to you. If you're abused don't resist. If the police lets you go and you're injured, photograph the injuries. If you believe your rights have been violated write a complaint.
I felt the urge to type a lot, I hope you don't mind. ;)
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
14 Jul 10
Hello diamania,
These are all very good ideas. There was a father who had debt and they came to his house where he wa splaying with his daughter and he aasked police if they handcuff after he got in the car and drove around 1 block so his daughter would not see. His daughter was 7 years old and could be traumatic to her and his wife was in the house at the time and she did not know what was going on either until he called from the police station etc... can you imagine police car pulling up to your house and arresting right there with nothing be told just that you are bieng arrest and then told at the police station after they book you in jail etc...
It just to aggressive but I do like if you are in counseling to keep the papers on you maybe that may help in the long run and to keep your cool at all times... even thought your nerves are shot and you feel scared etc..
Thanks for the reply and have a great day
Sincerely unique16
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
14 Jul 10
hello lacieice,
it is for both not appearing in court and not paying off your debt that has been out there for over 5 or more years... as previuosly there are statues of limitations that credit card companies are not allowed to come after after so many years if you never payment from yoru last payment etc... but these second hand debt collectors are ingroring that scaring people that you need to make a pyament etc... each state is differnent on the years credit cards can still sue you... so you need to check and hospitals are doing it so are dentists and other places...
It is all becuase you owe money and some people did pay it off but had not receipt saying they paid it ... so they are being charge again for what they owe and the court fees etc.. which I think is not right either.
Thanks for your reply.
have a great day
Sincerely unqiue16
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
14 Jul 10
Yes, many states do place a statute of limitations on collecting bills, but the catch is that they cannot collect IF THEY HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO COLLECT in 3 years. If you received one letter or phone call, then the statute does not apply. At least, in Pennsylvania it is 3 years.
It happened to me. I bought a bedroom suite from a store with a private bank. My husband lost his job, and I couldn't pay. The store allowed me to pay just a little when I could, but then they went out of business, and I quit paying.
About 4 years later, I started getting collection notices and phone calls from a collection agency. I told them I couldn't pay for it...to come and get it. Then I found out about the statute of limitations, and brought it up to them. I never heard from them again.
The important thing to remember is that it only applies if no attempts have been made to collect the debt.
A reminder...ALWAYS KEEP RECEIPTS WHEN SOMETHING IS PAID IN FULL.
@jerikjames (1041)
• Philippines
13 Jul 10
I also think that you'd be arrested for not showing to court because that would already be contempt. But you can't go to prison because you owe anything anyone. I think it's also a law in the US that people with debts cannot be arrested and cannot even be filed a complaint on. The logic behind this is that if you're really bankrupt and don't have the ability to pay your debts it will be inhuman if they put you to jail because of this. It would only be a problem if you issue bouncing checks.
@Howard098 (6)
• United States
14 Jul 10
I believe there are currently debt reduction agencies that help people manage and pay off their debts?
I think it is right for the companies to send the police to arrest you.
Unfortunately I don't agree with the fact that they're doing it for small sums of owed money. $85 etc.
Which also raises the question, why did you borrow the money in the first place if you couldn't pay it off?
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
14 Jul 10
Hello Howard098,
This is for debt that is like 6 years old and it could be from a hospitalization or credit cards or car loans. Sometimes people think they have paid it off and they these comapnies sell these old debts to other companies. There is statue of limitation of roughly 5 to 7 years if you never made a payment the credit card company eats that amount etc... each state is differrent. Please remember there are a lot single families trying to make good on there debt and when a father or mother lands in the hopistal or is get laid off and can not fined employment... there are so many factors why people can not pay it all off etc... but sometimes the person really did and these other comapnies are trying to steal more money from you etc... you need to keep receipts of when you paid if off etc.. to prove to the courts that is was paid off... now tell how many of you kept s receipt that you were paid in full from a credit card? I bet not many... how many kept a receipt from the hospital or doctors or dentist that you are paid in full... not many... I hope you can see where this is problem with credit industry... to go to jail for unpaid credit card for $85.00 when we bailed them out in taxes over these last two years....I still say it unfair and not right....
Thanks for your reply
Have a great day
Sincerely unique16
